Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC National Communication Officer, has indicated that the President's suspension of the December 17 referendum is a fear of defeat.
This, according to him, shows that the NDC and all “No Vote” advocates have won and it is a "collective nationalistic decision to put Ghana first".
Sammy Gyamfi questioned the rationale behind the President's decision to cancel the entire exercise since his conviction was that "YES" votes would have secured a 75% of the valid votes cast.
"...Why the cancellation of the referendum on grounds of lack of national consensus... Why waste the public purse like this... What national consensus does the president need again if he indeed has the support of 75% of voters?" he quizzed.
President Akufo-Addo announced to the entire nation yesterday that he has called off the referendum which was to take place on 17 December, 2019 due to a lack of "broad national consensus amongst the key stakeholders and the populace".
He indicated that the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama, MP, who is spearheading the process, on behalf of the government, to abort the process, and see to the withdrawal of the bills for the amendment of the Constitution, both in respect of Articles 243(1) and 55(3).
In his address to the nation, the President indicated that the attainment of a broad consensus, for him, on a matter as important as the amendment of an entrenched provision of the Constitution, is critical.
“I do not believe that such an amendment should be driven as a party matter. There has to be a clear national consensus and agreement amongst the populace that a particular entrenched provision no longer serves the interest of the people, and, thus, has to be removed,” he said.
This, according to him, shows that the NDC and all “No Vote” advocates have won and it is a "collective nationalistic decision to put Ghana first".
Sammy Gyamfi questioned the rationale behind the President's decision to cancel the entire exercise since his conviction was that "YES" votes would have secured a 75% of the valid votes cast.
"...Why the cancellation of the referendum on grounds of lack of national consensus... Why waste the public purse like this... What national consensus does the president need again if he indeed has the support of 75% of voters?" he quizzed.
President Akufo-Addo announced to the entire nation yesterday that he has called off the referendum which was to take place on 17 December, 2019 due to a lack of "broad national consensus amongst the key stakeholders and the populace".
He indicated that the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama, MP, who is spearheading the process, on behalf of the government, to abort the process, and see to the withdrawal of the bills for the amendment of the Constitution, both in respect of Articles 243(1) and 55(3).
In his address to the nation, the President indicated that the attainment of a broad consensus, for him, on a matter as important as the amendment of an entrenched provision of the Constitution, is critical.
“I do not believe that such an amendment should be driven as a party matter. There has to be a clear national consensus and agreement amongst the populace that a particular entrenched provision no longer serves the interest of the people, and, thus, has to be removed,” he said.
